H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S | R E L AT I O N S H I P S | C O M M U N I T Y
This Feels Like Home ® SPRING | SUMMER 2017
Taking
ACTION From policy to pain management, a growing senior population is driving change A PUBLICATION OF SPECTRUM RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, LLC
Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC offers flexible, affordable, month-to-month rental apartment homes, enabling residents to enjoy the luxury they desire without a prohibitive financial commitment or buy-in fee. Lifestyle options include independent living, assisted living, transitional memory care and memory
Visit us at Rigden Farm Senior Living! Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy • Incontinence Treatments Driving Rehabilitation • Care Management Fitness Training • Massage Therapy (970) 204-4331 www.CovellCare.com
RPI Therapy Services
Exceptional Care. Exceptional Results.
care. Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC has multiple locations in 12 states across the country. To learn more or to find a community near you, call 888-516-2188 or visit us online at SpectrumRetirement.com
John Sevo MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jeff Kraus MANAGING DIRECTOR
Brad Kraus PRESIDENT & COO
Phillip Luebbers SENIOR VP & CFO
Joe Mikalajunas SENIOR VP & CCOO
Kathleen MacDonald EDITOR & VP OF MARKETING
(800) 852-0857 HUNGRYEYEMEDIA.COM Brendan Harrington PRESIDENT
Lindsay Burke ART DIRECTOR
RPI THERAPY SERVICES Missouri Locations 314-644-1978 Illinois Locations 618-504-1001 www.rpistl.com
Shannon Moore DESIGNER
Heather Shoning EDITOR
Susan Humphrey MARKETING OPERATIONS MANAGER
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Welcome to
Spectrum
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LEGISLATION AND POLICY RELEVANT to aging and seniors is always top of mind for us as we fret endlessly about the care, health, safety and long-term wellness of our wonderful communities — each and every one of them. And while not every policy will affect every person individually, as a whole they define how we value our seniors in this country (page 8). At Spectrum Retirement Communities, we place an enormous amount of value on the knowledge and history you hold and share as well as the integral part you have been and continue to be in the fabric of this nation. While we believe that the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and other age-related policy issues are important, we also believe that everything we can do to enable you to take control of your own care and well-being is time and money well spent. We know from watching resident after resident experience newfound happiness that it’s never too late to try something new (page 7). We’ve also watched seniors just like you turn their health around by taking control of troubling health issues (page 12). And, of course, we long to see you empowered to make the important decisions that will give you and your loved ones peace of mind when end of life is near (page 30). You will also see, throughout the pages of this magazine, we salute you and your sacrifices as part of the Greatest Generation (page 20). And we celebrate those of you who have lived an entire
MANAGING DIRECTORS JEFF KRAUS AND JOHN SEVO
century — and beyond — in awe of the lives you have led and the stories you share, which will forever keep our history alive (page 28). We honor the Spectrum residents who give of themselves and have throughout their lives, and who share their intimate and heartfelt stories (page 14). So, whether you consider yourself knowledgeable about policy or are just concerned with the specific needs you face on a day-to-day basis, we hope you know you have a partner in us. Spectrum is here to help you, hold you and guide you through this lovely thing we call life! Enjoy the issue, John Sevo and Jeff Kraus Managing Directors Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC We’d love to hear from you! Do you have an interesting story to share? An idea for a future issue of the magazine? What would you like to learn more about? Help us celebrate the people and personalities that make Spectrum such a wonderful company. Send your ideas to editor@spectrumretirement.com.
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05 06
TODAY’S CAREGIVERS
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IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
Who they are, who they care for and how they feel about it.
TELL YOUR TALE
LIFESTYLE DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS
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Four tips for sharing your life story as a keepsake for loved ones. Want to learn a new skill or even offer a long-overdue apology? Today is the day.
GREATEST GENERATION
FIERCE FORTITUDE
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CELEBRATING OUR CENTENARIANS
Internment camp. Lost at sea. Breaking gender barriers in the military. These unsung heroes tell their tales.
Reflections on a century of life, a lifetime of memories.
ADVISOR
08
30
The Senior
Boom
WELLNESS
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From becoming a hospital namesake, to dancing with the secretary who would erase the Nixon Watergate tapes, to carving a carousel cow, these residents share remarkable stories.
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FEATURE
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STORIED LIVES
MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN Traditional and alternative techniques to give you relief.
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DEVISE A PLAN Discuss your end-of-life decisions with your family and physician.
SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS Navigating the changing tides of health care for seniors.
INSIDE SPECTRUM
34 35
LOOKING AHEAD Spectrum continues to offer a variety of living options for Ohioans.
FINDING LOVE A Kansas pair discovers love at first sight late in life.
FULL SPECTRUM
Who Is Caring For Our Seniors? Currently, 65 percent of older adults with long-term care needs rely exclusively on family and friends for help with everything from household tasks to assistance with medical-related needs. Thirty-five percent of those seniors live in their caregiver’s home. As the aging population grows, it will become more and more important to explore alternative options for care and ways to better support caregivers.
TODAY’S CAREGIVERS PROVIDE UNPAID CARE FOR ...
WHO THEY ARE
42%
NEARLY
34.2 MILLION AMERICAN ADULTS AGE 50+
WHO THEY CARE FOR
PARENT
60% FEMALE
NEARLY
50% 75+
CARE FOR SOMEONE AGE
WHAT THEY DO
7%
40%
IN-LAW
MALE
WHAT THEY THINK
24.4 hrs PER WEEK PROVIDING CARE
6 in 10
ASSIST WITH MEDICAL & NURSING TASKS
4 in 10
CONSIDER THEIR CAREGIVING TO BE HIGHLY STRESSFUL
8/10
STATE THEY COULD USE MORE INFORMATION ON CAREGIVING
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Settle In
Tell Your TALE
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NEW HOME
YOUR LIFE STORY IS UNIQUE AND MORE CAPTIVATING THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE By Emily O’Brien
Moving to a new home can be intimidating to say the least. We want you to settle in, feel right at home and enjoy living at your Spectrum Retirement community. Victor “Vic: Kubelsky struggled when he moved into his new home at Lombard Place Assisted Living & Memory Care in Lombard, Illinois. He did not want to be there; he would pack his bags and try to leave. But as soon as Vic started to get involved with therapy and the SpectraFitTM program and started to take part in men’s club and going out to eat, he realized his life was suddenly rich with fun and activities. Getting involved and participating in activities is the best way to make friends and enjoy your new life! Visit with a team member to find out how you can get involved.
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Writing your life story can benefit you as well as others. The process alone is known to be cathartic and enlightening, but it can also be highly beneficial as a family keepsake — should you choose to share it. Whether you want to document your life in a factual way or unfold it in a fluid, captivating story, here are a few ways to get started.
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TRY JOURNALING o you remember the thrill of pouring your heart and soul into a D journal as a child? If so, this may be a good way to start. Try writing a few times a week and see what spills out.
2 EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY I f you’re not that great with a pen, never fear! Tell your story to a simple, handheld voice recorder and enlist a friend or family member to transcribe it. Consider making a video of you telling your life story — family members will cherish that for generations. And a handy grandchild can probably edit it for you so it looks like a professional telecast.
3 W RITE ABOUT A TURNING POINT id a major event in your life catapult you toward a different path D or a wild ride you never imagined signing up for? These experiences make for attractive first chapters or even an entire novel.
4 WRITE WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH on’t feel like you have to share every single detail. If it makes you D feel uncomfortable, choose a different experience to write about. Since you’re the author, you get to decide what stays and goes. There isn’t a right way to tell your tale. The key is to just get started. And keep on going!
It’s
NEVER
Too Late To... ADD ZEST TO YOUR LIFE WITH NEW ACTIVITIES AND SKILLS
By Emily O’Brien
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Is there something you’ve always yearned to do but never tried? Or perhaps you’d like to tighten up a skillset and improve upon the basics. Either way, it’s never too late to … BE A BETTER LISTENER
SAY YOU’RE SORRY
You’d think as we age, listening would come more naturally, but that’s not always the case. The more you listen to friends or loved ones, the deeper your connection will be. A few key tips include maintaining eye contact, don’t interject, wait until there is a pause; and summarize what your friend says to show you’re paying attention.
Life is too short to hold regrets. If you notice a feeling continually popping up in your head or know you’re regretful for a past action, reach out and make amends. It’s never too late to try to make a tough situation right again, especially if it’s weighing you down emotionally. A handwritten letter or phone call might make all the difference in the world.
LEARN A NEW CRAFT The crafting world is filled with endless possibilities. You could scrapbook, learn calligraphy, photography and more. The Internet offers an infinite resource of how-to text and video guides. Start small. Do you already have the materials somewhere, or maybe a skilled friend that can show you the ropes? If you try it and don’t feel like it’s clicking after awhile, move on to a new craft.
HOST AN ACTIVITY GROUP Gathering a group of like-minded people allows you to enjoy a pleasurable activity and socialize, all at the same time. Maybe starting a book group is right for you, or perhaps you’re more a fan of movies. Toss out a couple dates and times and let majority rule when it comes to solidifying them.
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The Senior Boom
THE AGING BABY BOOMER POPULATION IS DRIVING THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN AMERICAN POLITICAL POLICY By Lydia K. Manning, Ph.D.
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We are preparing for an unprecedented demographic shift in human history. Like most other industrialized nations, the U.S. is an aging country. Today, there are more than 40 million people ages 65 and older; this number is expected to steadily increase. By 2030, it’s estimated that the population of this age group will rise to nearly 75 million. As a result, policymakers are faced with several issues that an aging society presents such as challenges to health care, retirement and social benefit programs that improve the lives of older adults. Addressing these challenges entails finding ways to contain the cost and scope of government as well as re-examining the role of government, as it relates to social welfare. Additionally, policymakers are tasked with finding ways to build policy solutions that are broad and good for all ages — not just older adults.
A FOUNDATION OF CARE FOR SENIORS Age-related policies and programs have long been a part of social policy in the U.S. Public policy related to older age started with the implementation of Social Security in 1935. We then passed the Older Americans Act in 1965 and Medicare in 1966. These policies ensure that older adults receive needed aging-related services and health care. Historically, older adults have benefited greatly from the entitlements and expenditures of the age-related programs and policies. Americans are comfortable with social policies that benefit and protect older adults; much of this has to do with political ideology and societal values. Given this reality, many gerontologists and experts in the field of aging are puzzled by the lack of meaningful conversation and action in the recent election cycle. As a result, experts are worried about what will happen to our long-standing programs such as Social Security, Medicare and the Older Americans Act as the aging population increases. While Medicare and Social Security were briefly alluded to on the campaign trail, lacking was a meaningful discussion
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on proposed changes that would improve or safeguard the programs. Fast forward to today: The election is over, and the new administration is firmly in place. Now more than ever, we need to ensure existing programs remain intact such as ones that promote health and disease prevention, senior nutrition programs, senior centers, caregiver support and more. Early indicators point to future cuts in such programs.
A BLUEPRINT FOR THE BOOMING FUTURE Leading experts in the field of aging are encouraging policymakers to consider several key areas as they plan to address issues regarding aging. They include the aging network, which was created by the Older Americans Act. They also encourage reviewing the realities of low-income elders and how they would be impacted by potential changes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and how changes will impact long-term care and issues related to work and retirement. In a recent interview, Bob Blancato, president of an influential public policy and strategy consulting firm, and current board chair of the American Society
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on Aging, indicated that social policies in America need to be better aligned with “realities of an aging society, with policies that promote opportunities while also addressing real challenges.” More people living longer provide a benefit to society; this can be seen as opportunity. Related challenges invite us to think about how we can support healthy aging. We can start by creating policies and programs that help people age optimally such as community-based and safe walking programs. Also needed are programs that offset isolation and provide opportunities for older adults to contribute such as Experience Corps, an intergenerational, volunteer-based tutoring program that engages adults ages 50 and older.
SENIOR SOCIAL ISSUES WE MUST FACE AND FIX Many older adults wish to age in place, which means remaining in the same community but taking advantage of the additional health care provided at the community if needed. As people live longer and healthier in greater numbers, all communities will need to adapt to aging. The importance of creating and supporting age-friendly communities, or communities
ELDER FINANCIAL SCAMS Be on the Lookout! TELEMARKETING AND PHONE SCAMS
There are a variety of phone scams to which older adults fall prey. Often following a natural disaster, scammers will solicit money in a fake charity name, but the money just goes into their bank account. Another ploy uses a family member as a victim. A scammer, who has done his/her research will call and say that “Johnny” has had an accident and is in the hospital needing money or that he is in jail and needs bail money. They request the funds via Western Union.
FUNERAL AND CEMETERY SCAMS
These scams are two-fold and especially malicious in that they catch the senior at his or her most vulnerable. A scammer will scour obituaries, attend the funeral and tell the grieving widow that the deceased has an outstanding debt. They pocket the money and disappear. Another scam is perpetrated by funeral homes inflating pricing and requiring payment for a casket when the deceased is being cremated.
where elected leadership has made a deliberate effort to influence their physical and social environments in a manner that benefits older adults, is important. Age-friendly communities focus on the community as a whole, rather than individual services that benefit older adults, which is typically how federal programs for older adults work. Experts in aging recognize that age-friendly communities can bolster older adults’ health and well-being and prevent or delay the onset of disease and disability. From a policy perspective, we need broad-based support and federal programming to help communities become and remain age-friendly. Financial fraud as a form of elder abuse is becoming increasingly common and as a result is now a major problem in the U.S. Elder financial exploitation makes older adults and their families vulnerable, it varies in type and extent and is challenging to define with a single comprehensive definition. Experts at MetLife have described elder financial abuse as any type of unauthorized use of funds or the illegal taking of resources or property of people over the age of 60. In the “Broken Trust: Elders, Families and Finances” study, MetLife reported that one million elders lose about $2.6 billion each year in the U.S. Granted, the Elder Justice Act provides dedicated
resources to Adult Protective Services, but only has approximately $10 million in funding. Experts argue that federal policies and funding should be appropriated accordingly. Creating age-friendly communities and preventing elder abuse are just two issues to be addressed and supported at the federal level. Additional policy issues that our government should be paying attention to include: the modernization of Medicare, the integration of Medicare and Medicaid, as well the integration of acute and long term care services, policies that help improve the quality of health care for older
adults and recognition by the federal government that indeed, ageism, is a problem. Aging is everyone’s business. Lydia Manning is a gerontologist, educator and entrepreneur with a wide range of experience in the field of aging. She is an associate professor of gerontology at Concordia University Chicago. Dr. Manning received her Ph.D. in social gerontology from the Department of Sociology and Gerontology at Miami University For updates on aging-related policy, visit www.ncoa.org/ public-policy-action/
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WE LLNESS
Managing Chronic Pain FROM TRADITIONAL TO ALTERNATIVE, THESE TIPS WILL HELP DECREASE PAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE.
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By Emily O’Brien
DEALING WITH CHRONIC PAIN IS AN ongoing matter. Whether resulting from an injury, infection or something else, pain can persist for years and affects much more than just your physical wellbeing. There’s also a large emotional component to dealing with pain that should not be overlooked.
TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES MEDICINE Talking to your doctor and maintaining an ongoing dialogue about your chronic pain may be your best line of defense. A doctor can prescribe medication to consume daily and write an additional prescription for painful flare-ups. Your doctor
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might also suggest over-the-counter medications that can help put a damper on inflammation and soreness. If you’re on a limited income, lower cost generics might be an option.
SUPPORT GROUP Being open and honest about your chronic pain is also beneficial. The American Psychological Association discusses the benefits of psychotherapy (talk therapy) for pain management, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback and guided imagery. Therapy offers stress-management techniques and teaches real-life coping skills with the notion that patients spearhead their own life improvement via getting better sleep and proper stress navigation.
WE LLNESS
LIFESTYLE Simple lifestyle changes can make a major impact on chronic pain. Not smoking, limiting alcohol use and eating a balanced diet can produce immediate positive results. Adopting an easy-to-digest diet free from foods known to aggravate inflammation can also be beneficial. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains and beans, and stay away from processed, high fat or fried foods and any with refined starches and sugars.
with meditation and breathing work in tandem for a better quality of life.
MASSAGE THERAPY When pain and stress afflict the muscles, they constrict and tense up. A masseuse works to release this pressure and alleviate some of the pain that often accompanies it. Many will apply a holistic approach and treat the entire body system and its relationship to soft tissue, instead of only the targeted pain area.
MINDFULNESS 101 Mindfulness works to break down our conditioned responses and put a little space between our internal and external reactions. Linked to changes in the brain and in the body’s production of hormones, including other chemicals that impact health, the science behind mindfulness is still pouring in.
ALTERNATIVE METHODS MINDFULNESS PRACTICE A mindfulness practice can help shift the focus on things that seem out of your control. By paying more attention to the here and now, you’ll be less likely to be swept up in worrying about the future or fret over past regrets. You’ll also be more likely to form deeper connections with others and see a variety of health benefits, including better sleep, lower blood pressure and less gastrointestinal difficulties.
YOGA Yoga bolsters strength and flexibility while decreasing stress and quieting the mind. Mayo Clinic reports yoga practice can reduce stress, which, in turn, helps those suffering from chronic pain. The combination of Asana, the physical postures of yoga,
ake time. You don’t need special M equipment or pillows, but you do need to allow for a set amount of time in a quiet space. O bserve. What is happening in this present moment? Mindfulness is not about emptying the mind; rather it’s about paying attention to the present moment, without judgment. et it roll. Your judgments that is. When L you feel them arise, just make note and let them roll on by. Then bring your thinking back to the present moment. K now this is normal. Our minds wander. Don’t beat yourself up for having a mind that has a mind of its own! When yours wanders, simply bring it back to the present moment.
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LIFEST YLE
DIST INGU ISHED RE SIDE N T S
STORIED LIVES
SPECTRUM RESIDENTS SHARE TALES OF THEIR REMARKABLE LIVES AND THE TREASURED GIFTS THEY BESTOW UPON OTHERS.
VIRGINIA (SCHOTT) MILLAR THE GARDENS AT OCOTILLO SENIOR LIVING Chandler, Arizona
VIRGINIA “GINNY” MILLAR HAS AN old movie of her father, when he was 15 years old, arriving at Ellis Island after a long trek from Germany. The small town of Schotten in Germany is said to have received its name from the early Schott family that settled there before her father’s generation headed west. He settled in Portland, Oregon, where Ginny was born on March 18, 1923. As a family, to earn money Ginny has during the depression, Ginny’s written a mom and sister, along with Christmas her aunt and her aunt’s family, letter every would stay in cabins and pick year since “hops” in the fields by hand. 1961, and she They would stay through Labor keeps them all Day, to earn a bonus, which together. It’s meant that they would have the book of money to purchase schoolbooks. her life story. Despite being born in the U.S., Ginny’s heritage is important to her. She speaks both English and German and has put a lot of time and effort into making a genealogy book of her family. She has a canister set and Cinderella cookie jar that she received as bridal shower gifts that are very important to her and her family. A prized possession she holds dear is a family Bible her father had when he arrived on Ellis Island. Ginny has written a Christmas letter every year since 1961, and she keeps them all together. It’s the book of her life story. For more on writing your own life story, read “Tell Your Tale” on page 6.
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LIFEST YLE
DIANA FRENCH MOUNTAIN PARK SENIOR LIVING Phoenix, Arizona
DIANA FRENCH SPENT HER LIFE dedicated to the service of others. It began when she took a job with the United Service Organizations where she spent five years traveling to air bases to visit soldiers and help them write letters home. She would play ping pong and sit around the piano with them singing songs … anything to cheer them up. Later, the Michigan native worked for Richard Ziegman, a land developer who was on the Board of Directors of the charitable organization Friends of Our Little Brothers (FOLB), today known as Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH). Through Ziegman, Diana met Actress Helen Hayes, who was also on the Board of Directors of FOLB. At Helen’s request, Diana became a part of FOLB, where she worked to obtain donated food for areas in Mexico that were in desperate need of milk and cheese. Diana was so successful in her work that her boss said, “We are going to do the same thing throughout the world.” Diana founded a nonprofit organization, Brother to Brother International (BBI), with the
mission of finding organizations in need of help obtaining food, medicine, hospital equipment, supplies and verifying the credibility of these charities. During her tenure, Diana visited 13 countries and had experiences no other career would afford her. At one point in Africa, Diana found herself surrounded by young children who had never seen white skin before; they were rubbing her hands to see if the white would rub off. She made such an impact in Nigeria that a hospital was named after her, but upon attending the dedication ceremony, she was held at gunpoint after refusing to give money to some locals. Diana traveled to Russia where she acquired the first incubator for a hospital. She smuggled Russian print Bibles into the country in her suitcase padded with coloring books and crayons. The Russian mafia circled a semi truck parked outside Diana’s hotel, which was filled with hospital supplies, attempting to see what was inside the truck. Diana worked for her organization for 45 years before retiring. She received the Daily Point of Light award from the Points of Light organization for her lifetime of volunteer work.
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His mother was primarily a homemaker but worked retail during the Christmas season at Marshall Fields. The Mounseys supported their only child in exploring his musical talent of drumming. By age 10, he joined the Norwood Park Drum and Bugle Corp. At different stages of his life, Wayne was afforded much opportunity to travel the world through his career and time in the U.S. Army. He absorbed culture through music and cuisine. Playing the drums with numerous multi-cultural bands was exhilarating. While on business in Germany, Wayne met and shared a few drinks and friendly dances with Rose WAYNE JOHN MOUNSEY Marie Woods, President WESTBROOK SENIOR LIVING was born in Jefferson Park, IlliRichard Nixon’s personal Streamwood, Illinois nois, into a family whose English secretary. She would later lineage is well documented back claim responsibility for to 850 A.D. The Mounsey Castle inadvertently erasing five was built by King John Mounsey in 850 A.D., during minutes of the 18 ½-minute gap of private Oval the Iron Age. Today, the Mounsey Castle stands in Office audiotape. And on June 12, 1987, Wayne the rural lands of Dulverton, Somerset, England, witnessed in person President Ronald Reagan and is partially open to travelers. Wayne and his speaking at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, family have made numerous visits to the Mounsey Germany. Behind bulletproof glass, President Castle and have viewed King John’s throne at a Reagan firmly stated, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down nearby museum. Two large volumes of detailed this wall.” Mounsey history are included in the Newberry Wayne enjoys sharing his lifetime of travel Library’s collection located in Chicago. memories and stories of his family lineage involvWayne’s father worked for the Chicago City ing King John’s reign with his friends and Public Schools under Mayor Richard J. Daley. neighbors at Westbrook Senior Living.
WAYNE JOHN MOUNSEY
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LIFEST YLE
VERA SOUTEN
PINE RIDGE OF PLUMBROOK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Sterling Heights, Michigan
AFTER WITNESSING THE EXCELLENT care her husband received when he was in the hospital 17 years ago, Vera Souten was inspired to set up scholarship funds for medical students. Later, she decided to set up a musical scholarship as well. “My husband and I were both musically inclined with him playing the organ, and I helped with the church choir for a number of years,” Vera says. “ I thought it would be good to give scholarships to the performing arts as well.” Vera has three scholarship programs. Two are for the Four County Community Foundation. She also gives a scholarship at Oakland University. Vera says, “God has been good in allowing me to do this, and it has been a blessing and a dream to be able to combine both music and medicine in these scholarships.” More than a dozen students have received one of Vera’s scholarships, and she says, “One young man is in his fourth year of college. He recently wrote me a thank-you letter and he promised me a ticket to his graduation!”
MIKE CALLAHAN WAS A FIREFIGHTER and EMT for 30 years. He married his wife, Marcia, in September of 1970. He served his country in the Navy from 1964 to 1968. Mike took art classes including sculpting, bronze casting and wood carving at junior college in San Diego. While in the Navy, he carved squadron retirement plaques for his colleagues. Today, Mike is working on a much larger carving — Sally, a Swiss cow carousel character for the Historic Carousel & Museum in Albany. About a year and a half ago, Mike and Marcia were touring the museum when she mentioned to the tour guide that Mike is a carver. The staff sent him home with a small carving project, and when he returned it, they were so impressed with his talent they offered him the job of carving Sally. Working on his project every Saturday, he anticipates it will take him another year to finish because of the fine details. In all, he expects to have about 600 hours of carving to complete Sally.
MIKE CALLAHAN
CRESCENT PARK SENIOR LIVING Eugene, Oregon
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AFTER GROWING UP IN CLEVELAND, ARTHUR Leissa earned his Ph.D. in engineering from Ohio State University, where he then worked as an engineering professor for 45 years. At age 32, he became one of the youngest tenured professors on campus. In addition to teaching, Art consulted for aerospace companies and carried out extensive research for NASA and the Air Force. One major research project for NASA involved collecting all published technical literature in the world on vibrations of plates and shells. Approximately 1,500 relevant technical articles and research reports were found worldwide including publications in Russian, German, Japanese and Polish. Over the course of six years, graduate students and undergraduate assistants helped Art organize the information, which he ultimately summarized in two comprehensive monographs, “Vibration of Plates” (1969) and “Vibration of Shells” (1973). Nothing like this had ever been done RIGDEN FARM SENIOR LIVING before. These two Fort Collins, Colorado books alone made him famous in the engineering world and landed him invitations to many journal editorial boards and lectures as a speaker and a professor. Art spent the 1972–1973 academic year as a visiting professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, giving his lectures in German. There he met Trudi, a wonderful Swiss woman his age who was an avid hiker and cross-country skier. Together they climbed Mt. Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. They married in 1974 and took trips to Switzerland each of their first 39 years together. Art has a life-long interest in mountain climbing and, in 1989, finished climbing all 54 of the Colorado 14ers — mountains that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation.
ARTHUR LEISSA
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Marjorie showed change was possible before change was acceptable.
a lot of support from her family and passed all four parts of the CPA exam on the first round! Marjorie says in her early days of accounting she did not feel she was discriminated against as a woman in a profession that had been dominated by men for generations. Accounting was a LAKEVIEW SENIOR LIVING great career choice and if she had Lakewood, Colorado to do it over again she would. MARJORIE SMITH “I never lost a client because never thought of herself I was a woman,” she said. “I did as a pioneer, a trendsetfire a couple of clients because I ter or ahead of the curve by joining the Certified didn’t feel they were trustworthy though.” Accountant profession in the early 1970s. From After many years and several partners family to school to becoming a CPA to starting her Marjorie sold her practice in 1992. It was time own firm, Marjorie showed change was possible for a change, and Marjorie and her husband before change was acceptable. Donald moved to Buffalo Creek, Colorado. She Born in Mississippi, Marjorie and her family loved Buffalo Creek, however, when Marjorie’s moved to Denver during World War II to accomhusband died in 2002 it was again time for a new modate her mother’s need for a drier climate. As decision, and she declared herself officially ready Marjorie’s family grew and her children got older, to retire. she finished college at University of Colorado at Marjorie is a great volunteer at Lakeview, Denver, earning a degree in accounting. As a nonshe helps with several different committees, traditional student with a family, the University participates in many groups, loves bridge and her of Colorado was the perfect choice. Marjorie had laughter fills each room she enters.
MARJORIE SMITH
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T AT E S G R E RATION GENE
FIERCE FORTITUDE
FROM SURVIVING INTERNMENT TO BEING LOST AT SEA TO UPENDING GENDER BIAS, THESE WARTIME HEROES SHARE THEIR STORIES.
ROBERT GROBELNY THE GARDENS AT WESTLAKE SENIOR LIVING WESTLAKE, OHIO
STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT Grobelny is truly one of the Greatest Generation. He joined the Army on October 15, 1942. 20
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He saw action in the African Middle East, fought at Normandy and was with the troops that were in the Battle of the Bulge. When asked about his service in the Army he states he’s lucky to be alive. When asked about the Battle of the Bulge he just shivers and states, “It was cold!” For his service to his country Robert was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII victory Medal,
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five bronze stars, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Robert was honorably discharged from the Army on November 17, 1945, after serving his country well in its fight for freedom.
LIFEST YLE
KEITH BRATTON MEADOW BROOK SENIOR LIVING FISHERS, INDIANA
KEITH BRATTON BEGAN cartooning early in life at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After his graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy Air Corps, and was assigned to fly combat missions in the South Pacific until WWII ended. Keith was so certain that he was going to fail (he didn’t) the final test to become a bombardier, that at 10,000 feet he accidently pulled the ripcord for his parachute while he was in the bombardier seat. He went on to fly 19 successful combat missions as a petty officer from 1943 to 1946.
He remembers one early morning (August 6th) on the ground at North Field, Tinian in the Mariana Islands in 1945. At about 5:08 a.m., he observed unusual activity around a B-29 Bomber — the Enola Gay, which sat off on its own some distance from the other aircraft. Later, he heard that a “bomb the size of a pea was dropped on Hiroshima and leveled the city.” Of course, it was the now infamous Enola Gay. In his spare time during the war years, he would create insignias for airplanes, which would then be painted on, personalizing the plane. He credits his love of flying and all things aviation with introducing him to people who have becoming lifelong friends including Senator William (Pete)
Knight who was an X-15 test pilot and Roscoe Turner who was a record-breaking American aviator. Following his discharge, he enrolled in Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attended John Herron Art School. He was commissioned by his 1950 class to create 20 oil paintings, depicting college life. These works were installed in the then newly opened Atherton Student Center, where they remained until a recent remodeling. Graduating with a degree in Journalism, he worked briefly in that profession at the Indianapolis News and later at the Indianapolis Times, aspiring to become an editorial cartoonist. His list of jobs is varied and includes speaker, illustrator, editorial cartoonist, author and advertising agency owner — among many others. Keith Bratton Advertising Agency began operations in 1961 and through the years won every major award in radio, TV and print advertising. He retired in the late 1980s. continued on page 22 SP ECTRUM
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During the course of his career he illustrated books, created a syndicated panel cartoon and developed a bestselling record for plants called “Vegetation Conversation,” as well as many other entrepreneurial endeavors and projects. In retirement, he devotes his time to his three children Kim, Kirk and Eric. He enjoys playing golf, and of course, art remains a centerpiece in his life. Keith has an open door policy at Meadow Brook and enjoys having residents and team members stop by to enjoy the artwork that decorates the walls of his apartment. He enjoys doing caricatures, which he says is more difficult than one would think. He delights in surprising team members and residents with caricatures — and they are just as delighted to receive them!
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PEGGY SWANSON CARMEL SENIOR LIVING CARMEL, INDIANA
PEGGY SWANSON SERVED her country as a Staff Sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), which was the women’s branch of the United States Army. Serving from 1943 to 1945, Peggy was involved in several top-secret missions, and near the end of her enlistment she supervised clerical duties. She worked for the first director of the Women’s Army Air Corp, Oveta Culp Hobby, a prominent society woman from Texas. As an enlisted woman, she earned pay grade 4, which netted a whopping $78.00 per month and $936 per year! Peggy is an active member of the American Legion #155 and the VFW, both in Carmel. She’s also an active member of the Spectrum community. Her favorite activities are working on 1,000-piece puzzles, outings, happy hour, games, parties and crafts. She also loves spending time with her family members who live locally.
CONRAD JOHN BERGHOEFER PINE RIDGE OF HAYES SENIOR LIVING STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
CONRAD “BUD” Berghoefer, born in Detroit in 1930 and later moved to a northern suburb of the city, was plagued with mischief in his early teens, dropping out of high school at age 15 and even being part of a local gang. At age 17, he decided to enlist in the Army, and although his mother wasn’t happy about it, she hoped it would keep him out of trouble, so she signed the paperwork, and he was off to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. After four months of artillery training, Conrad was stationed
for a year in Taeg, Korea, during the occupation. In 1949, he was in the last group to leave Korea and was sent to Hawaii, where he remained for the final 11 months of his enlistment. His teenage mischief followed him into the Army and he was arrested many times in Hawaii for disorderly conduct. He was discharged three days before the Korean War began, and the man who took his place in the platoon was killed. After being a civilian for a year, Conrad’s mother begged him to re-enlist to watch out for his younger brother who had enlisted, also underage, just as Conrad had been. He did, only to find out his brother received a minority discharge — and now Conrad had three more years to serve. Back to Fort Knox for a refresher, then he was on to Korea for two years, where, thankfully, his sergeant liked him and got him
off the front line and into the maintenance and engineering department. He was happy to be learning valuable skills, and this set the tone for the remainder of his military career. In 1954, he was discharged and able to return home to Utica, Michigan. He married, for the second time, and he and his wife had a daughter. But life was different when he returned home, and he had a tough time finding work. He decided to enlist once again, and this time was sent to Germany. Thanks to his rank at this time, he was allowed to have his wife and daughter join him overseas. However, tragedy struck. His wife died and his daughter was missing. He immediately returned home and found his daughter with a family friend who didn’t know his wife had passed away. After this hardship, he went to Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, to complete his enlistment. On a weekend pass, he returned to Detroit to visit family. His sister introduced him to the woman who would quickly become his third wife and a mother to his young daughter. The couple remained married for 28 years, during which time Conrad continued to re-enlist and serve his country for many years. He was awarded four Bronze Stars over the course of his military service.
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EDITH HORIUCHI HIGHPOINTE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE DENVER, COLORADO
EDITH HORIUCHI’S wartime experience as an Army wife was the bittersweet shift away from the struggles of childhood. She was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1920, and had two brothers and a sister. When Edith was six, her mother passed away during childbirth and by age nine she was orphaned when her father died of pneumonia. Her 12-year-old sister became the head of the household, 24
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and Edith along with all her siblings worked on the family’s 40-acre farm. With help from a neighbor, the clan managed to keep the farm going, and they all graduated from high school with college scholarships. Despite the scholarships, none of the children went on to college as it was still financially out of reach. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Edith’s oldest brother was drafted, and the rest of the family was interned in Pocatello, Idaho, at Camp Minidoka. They lost everything. While she doesn’t remember exactly how long they were in the camp, she does recall the horrible living conditions. There was always a man in a tower with a machine
gun overlooking the camp. All campers were responsible for their own cooking, maintenance and more. There were four people in one room, with two bunk beds, a blanket and pillow for each bed and a closet. The rooms were unfinished; the 2x4 studs that made up the walls were showing. It was dusty, and when it rained, it was extremely muddy. The camp had a mess hall in the middle, along with the public showers and army-style barracks surrounding the mess hall. Edith met Harold Horiuchi at the internment camp, and they
were married in 1943. Harold was later drafted into the segregated army, a sergeant in the Japanese American Battalion 442. While Harold was overseas, Edith gave birth to their first baby, Jeraldine “Jeri” Horiuchi. During this time, Edith lived with her sister-in-law in Peoria, Illinois. When Harold returned, Jeri was already nine months old. Her other daughter, Barbara Jean, was born after the family moved to an army base in Seattle. In Seattle, Harold worked at Boeing before opening his own gardening business. Edith was a
full-time mother and housewife. During this time, Harold started skiing. He loved it so much that one day, he came home and said, “We are moving to Colorado!” And off they went to start a life in Colorado. Harold used his G.I. Bill to attend a watchmaking school. He worked with Mr. Grusin at Henri’s Jewelry. When Mr. Grusin retired, he sold his store to Harold, who finally sold it in 1971. Edith worked at the store as well. After they sold the store, Edith dedicated her time to becoming an accomplished golfer. When Harold died after being married to Edith for 72 years, they
had two memorial services, one in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and another in Winter Park. In Winter Park, the ski patrol carved H.H. onto a tree on one of his favorite slopes, dedicated a run in his name called “Harold’s Hideaway” and had a “ski down” with the ski patrollers and friends. To continue his legacy, their daughter Barbara and her husband teach skiing/snowboarding in Vail, Colorado. “We had a wonderful 72 years, and had a lot of fun!” Edith says. “We sure enjoyed our life. We never fought. Harold knew how to read people, and he was friends with everyone.”
“Needless to say, I’d like to hurry back, not just to visit my sister, but for the Chef’s wonderful food.” - JACQUELINE KNOWLES
Sister of resident at a Spectrum Retirement Community
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LIFEST YLE
DON “COACH” WILLIAMS WESTBROOK SENIOR LIVING STREAMWOOD, ILLINOIS
DON “COACH” WILLIAMS served in the Navy from 1951 to 1956. In 1951, Coach was re-assigned from Memphis to the Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach approximately 14 miles south of San Diego, California. Coach would go on to assist the helicopter squadron in maintaining and repairing sonar equipment to track submarines. 26
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Coach would prove to be quite the mechanic! Coach’s sudden assignment to San Diego threw a twist into planning his upcoming wedding scheduled in Evansville, Indiana. So, he went AWOL with his bride-to-be Marilyn, whom he had known since 5th grade, left the base, drove 290 miles from Memphis to Evansville to get married. They immediately turned around and went back to Memphis where Coach informed the Navy that he was newly married — there were no consequences for going AWOL in the name of love. He was granted a week off for a honeymoon. After the Navy, Coach
continued his college education at Evansville University and ultimately received his master’s degree in physical education and history from Indiana University in Bloomington. Eventually, he moved to Hoffman Estates, Illinois, where he and Marilyn could be closer to family. Coach taught physical education and was head football coach at Mt. Prospect High School. He was able to balance a great family life with his career, and he and Marilyn loved raising their three daughters. Coach retired in 1990, and the couple traveled many miles in their R.V. between Evansville and Phoenix, Arizona. They took up permanent residence in Phoenix until April 2016 when they moved back to Illinois to be closer to family including their grand- and great-grandchildren. They chose Westbrook Senior Living as their new home. Coach continues to enjoy life with Marilyn and their growing family. They have created close-knit friendships and enjoy all that Westbrook offers!
LIFEST YLE
ALYN WEHMEIER THE HOMESTEAD AT HICKORY VIEW RETIREMENT COMMUNITY WASHINGTON, MISSOURI
FOLLOWING IN THE footsteps of his three older brothers, Alyn Wehmeier joined the Navy in 1950. The farm boy, born in Newburg, Missouri in 1932, headed off to St. Louis to begin his service. During his service, Alyn worked in the electrical unit and saw combat in Japan and Korea. The electrical experience served him well, and upon his return from service, Alyn went into an
apprenticeship and spent his life working as an electrician. While on a minesweep in the sea near Inchon, Korea, his boat with five passengers hit a mine. Alyn was the sole survivor and spent two days adrift before being rescued. He spent 17 months in the hospital, and the only person in naval history to have survived such an incident. He credits his Bulova watch with saving his arm from a piece of
shrapnel from an explosion. Alyn spent 50 years as a Shriner supporting handicapped children at a St. Louis hospital and the children’s burn unit at a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started his burn unit fundraising by selling raffle tickets for a shot at three half gallons of whiskey at the electric plant where he worked. The company only allowed it because it was for a great cause.
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CELEBRATING our
CENTENARIANS REFLECTIONS ON A CENTURY OF LIFE, A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES.
who were glad I went to college and supported my decision to do so.
What big world events do you remember from the time you were growing up?
Millie Pitchford HIGHPOINTE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
Denver, Colorado BIRTHDAY: December 6, 1916
Did you have any heroes or role models as a child? My aunts Mary and Josie. There were so many women in my life
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One of the big ones was the Dustbowl. It was a terrible situation for farmers including my mother’s family. It had such an effect on them. I remember that, and the Second World War. My nephew was recruited into the Navy, and it was tragic because he was 17 and ended up at the bottom of the ocean. I’ll never forget that … I felt like he was cheated out of his life. He did NOT have to go; he was recruited, not drafted. He didn’t have to go! The good thing I remember was I spent four summers at Cheley Colorado Camps, about six miles south of Estes Park. Those were the most wonderful summers! There was a plaque there that I loved. It said: Wars never determine who is right, only who is left.
What impresses you? I was always so amazed by planes, because to be able to take a plane and fly over the clouds is a miracle! I always wanted a window seat! When I was a little girl, I would watch the clouds float by gently, and I always wondered what it would be like to fly above them. Oh, what a sight!
What is the best thing about getting older? Well, living here at HighPointe, having a good night’s sleep and some really good meals! Honest to goodness, how could I have anything better?
What was your proudest moment? Graduating from the Colorado State College of Education, now University of Northern Colorado. Nobody paid my way! I had $100 loaned by the bank for every year, and I paid off $400 by myself by teaching at Sugar City, Colorado. I paid it off in my first year of teaching! It was the best feeling not having any debt.
As you look back over your life, do you see any turning points?
What inventions do you remember from childhood?
When I had my children things changed, but I wouldn’t change anything about that. High School friends called me “little mother” because I was always talking about babies.
The refrigerator. I hated to have the ice blocks delivered because it seemed so unsanitary.
Love, understanding and togetherness in heart so when you’re separated you are still together.
As a child we didn’t have the money for vacations. However, after getting married, my husband and I bought a 26-foot motorhome and loved to travel all over the country with the kids.
What would you say are the major values or principles that you live by?
Is there anything you wish you’d done differently in your life?
No debt! If I can’t pay for it, I don’t buy it!
I wish I could have gone to college.
What are some of the most important lessons you feel you have learned over the course of your your life?
communication easier. And in recent years, the invention of Skype and FaceTime, which enable me to see my grandkids and family across the country.
What do you think is the secret to a happy marriage?
Peg Jordan PARKROSE ESTATES RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Liverpool, New York BIRTHDAY: JULY 2, 1917
Be honest and treat everyone nice, and my religion is important in my life.
As you look back over your life, do you see any turning points? Education. I wish my family could have afforded for me to receive a higher education.
Mollie Miller PARKROSE ESTATES RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Liverpool, New York BIRTHDAY: July 3, 1917
What’s the most memorable family vacation you took?
Did you have any heroes or role models when you were a child? My older sister was a very good role model for me.
What inventions do you most remember?
What’s the most memorable family vacation you took? After getting married, my husband and I went to Hawaii and took helicopter rides each day into the mountains.
What have you liked best about your life so far? The happiest moment of my life was the birth of my first child. And I enjoy having enough money to live in a place like Parkrose. I love it here.
The telephone, during my childhood days, which made
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ADVISOR
Devise a PLAN DISCUSS YOUR END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND PHYSICIAN By Camille Wilson
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END OF LIFE. IT’S NOT A TOPIC WE love to think about. And planning for it is generally not at the top of our priority list. However, taking that step helps ensure your wishes are honored and can alleviate your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions on your behalf.
PLAN AHEAD People of all ages can and should complete advance directives that spell out end-of-life wishes, including a living will. For those with a life-limiting illness, a living will can provide a sense of control by putting into writing your desires concerning medical treatments in the event you can no longer express them. It is essential to discuss your medical wishes with the person you designate as your proxy, or Medical Power of Attorney. This ensures your plans are clearly understood and can be carried out with compassion and confidence. When a doctor expects you to live a year or less, completing a Physician’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatments (POLST) form puts you in the driver’s seat. The exact name may be different in your state, but this planning tool is written with your health care team and signed by you and your doctor. It resides in your medical chart and empowers you as the patient by spelling out treatment levels for specific emergencies or conditions that may arise given your individual case. In contrast to an advance directive, which often designates general
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preferences, a POLST is intended to be specific and actionable, requiring no interpretation.
WHEN THE END IS NEAR If curative treatments are no longer working, or you decide to terminate these measures, and doctors estimate you have six months or less of life remaining, hospice care can improve comfort and the quality of your remaining time. Hospice is designed to treat symptoms such as fatigue, depression, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea and anything else causing distress so you can focus
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on the people around you during this important months and must be able to self-administer and farewell. Even with many medical advances in worldingest the prescribed medication. class hospice care, these treatments don’t always ease If you live outside one of these states, other options the pain that can be associated with dying. The indifor hastening death include stopping a treatment vidual patient and doctor should option, not starting a treatment, choose a course of treatment best palliative sedation or even voluntary For those with a lifesuited for each situation. stopping of eating and drinking. limiting illness, a living Medical aid in dying — someOf course, all of these choices will will can provide a sense times called death with dignity or require support from your health of control by putting physician-assisted dying — while care team and should be discussed into writing your desires controversial, is a compassionate openly and thoroughly with providconcerning medical option now legal in several states. ers as well as family members. treatments in the event Statutes in California, Colorado, During this time, it is often hard for you can no longer express them. Oregon, Vermont and Washington loved ones to make difficult decisions allow qualified terminally ill adults because they are already faced with to voluntarily request a prescripgrief, but you can spare them addition medication to hasten their death. Patients tional heartache by making your end-of-life care must be 18 or older, mentally competent, diagnosed choices well known and legally documented before with a terminal illness leading to death within six the time comes.
We are pet friendly!
Recovering from illness or injury? Ask your doctor about the Center at Arrowhead Our resort-like accommodations include all private rooms with private baths, gourmet meals, state-ofthe-art gym, and top-notch nurses and therapists.
888-516-2188
SpectrumRetirement.com
7201 W. Camino San Xavier Ave. • Glendale, AZ 85308 Phone: 623-773-6100 • www.centeratarrowhead.com Managed by Veritas Management Group • www.veritasmg.com
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ADVISOR
Senior Health INSURANCE PLANS IT PAYS TO KNOW YOUR ABCs ... AND Ds By Heather R. Johnson
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MEDICARE PROVIDES affordable health care for adults age 65 and over. For all its benefits, applying for Medicare and Medicare-approved plans gets more complicated every year. In addition to Medicare Part A and B, which collectively provide hospital, physician and outpatient services, older adults can also apply for Part D, a prescription drug program. To help cover outof-pocket expenses, adults can choose a Medigap policy offered by a Medicare-approved insurer. In the alternative, there’s Medicare Advantage (aka Medicare Part C), which offers the same coverage as Part A, B and usually D. To decide which combination suits your needs takes patience, time and an affinity for numbers and research. “Seniors face more complex health insurance choices than most of us,” says Juliette Cubanski, Associate Director of the Program on Medicare
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Policy at Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit that provides information on national health issues. “Compare as many plans as possible, and don’t rule out a company you haven’t heard of.”
CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS First, determine whether you want traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Traditional Medicare has no network restrictions on physician and specialist choices. But it also has no annual out-of-pocket limit. If you have significant medical expenses, you’ll pay your share indefinitely. Medigap helps cover these out-of-pocket costs. Medigap policies cover copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. “Medigap offers greater predictability,” says Cubanski. “It provides peace of mind because your costs are largely covered.” As an alternative to traditional Medicare, many
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adults opt for Medicare Advantage. Of the 51 million Americans covered by Medicare in 2016, 31 percent are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan — three times more than in 2004. Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and out-of-pocket costs. But most plans provide drug coverage, and all of them limit out-ofpocket spending to no more than $6,700 annually. Medicare Advantage is a comprehensive solution that may or may not save you money.
CHOOSE A PLAN THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU Choosing a plan is about as challenging as filing your taxes, but diligence pays off. With Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder, you can compare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap plans to find the benefits you need at a price you can afford. When reviewing plans, consider premium costs as well as other expenses. “Deductibles and cost-sharing amounts can be a more determining factor in how much someone pays for coverage,” says Cubanski.
HEALTH PLANS AT A GLANCE MEDICARE PART A Covers hospital and skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care and some home health care. No cost. Federally administered.
MEDICARE PART B Covers doctor’s services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventative services. Currently $139 per month or $109 if deducted from social security payments. Federally administered.
MEDICARE PART C Medicare Advantage. Provides Part A and B and usually Part D coverage. Administered by private insurance companies. Premiums vary.
BE WILLING TO CHANGE If you find your plan isn’t working for you, you can switch coverage during the annual open enrollment period. You’ll spend another afternoon comparing costs, but you may save hundreds of dollars in medical expenses.
“Our research suggests people leave money on the table by not switching plans,” Cubanski says. “People should at least take the opportunity to evaluate plans. The more experience you have with Medicare, the more you know what you like and what you’re willing to exchange for better value or lower cost.” If prescription drug costs get out of hand, Cubanski recommends talking to your pharmacist and doctor before switching plans. They may recommend an alternative medication or a generic option that can help you save money. If the enrollment process becomes too overwhelming, Cubanski recommends State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPS), which offer in-person counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and their families. “SHIPs exist to help people understand their Medicare coverage options and make informed decisions,” Cubanski says. When choosing a health insurance plan, evaluate your options thoroughly. Seek advice from friends, but remember insurance is an individual choice. As Cubanski says, “What works for your neighbor may not work for you.”
For more information, visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan and www.medicare.gov/Contacts/#resources/ships
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INSIDE SPECTRUM
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Looking Ahead BREAKING MORE GROUND IN OHIO
THREE CREEKS SENIOR LIVING IN Gahanna will be Spectrum’s fifth community in Ohio and third community under current construction in Central Ohio. Gahanna, Ohio, is located approximately eight miles northeast of downtown Columbus. This city offers 26 community and neighborhood parks and facilities with a variety of programs and services for individuals of all ages. In addition to the parks, there are more than 21 preserves, greenways and plenty of opportunities to take advantage of tranquil ground throughout Gahanna. With a population of more than 34,000, residents enjoy the unique Creekside District, town of Olde Gahanna and Herbal Trail. The city, recognized as the Herb Capital of Ohio, is home to the Gahanna Herbal Trail, which educates its visitors about the benefits and various uses of herbs in everyday life. Olde Gahanna is a charming bustling area with locally owned restaurants and cafés and is known for their three-day blues and jazz festival. Gahanna was founded along Big Walnut Creek in 1849 by
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John Clark. He named his property the Gahanna Plantation, from which the city derives its name. Anticipated to welcome residents in the Summer of 2017, Three Creeks Senior Living will be the first Spectrum community in Ohio offering a full spectrum of care: independent living, assisted living, transitional memory care and memory care. Pleased to offer residents flexible leasing with no buy-in fee, the new 161,000-square-foot, two-story community will feature 159 residences ranging in size from studio to two-bedroom apartments. Amenities will include a fitness/therapy center, theatre, library, beauty salon, transportation and plenty more; all carefully tailored to accommodate the residents’ personality, values and personal preferences. More than 40 percent of the community will be utilized for these community space features. Located at 5435 Morse Road, Three Creeks Senior Living will offer month-to-month rental apartments. For more information or to reserve your future home today, visit ThreeCreeksSeniorLiving.com
FINDING LOVE... WHEN YOU’RE NOT LOOKING
GENE DEPPEN LIVED A long and full life with a storied military career, four sons and wife with whom he spent many post-retirement years traveling. After his wife passed away in 2015, he moved to Kansas to be near family, and chose Park Meadows Senior Living as his new home. Little did he know that his very first night there would change the rest of his life. Gene took a seat at the community happy hour next to Myra
Hettic who had recently lost her spouse of 70 years. It was love at first sight. The couple has enjoyed many exciting things together including a trip to New York City. Gene thought this would be a good opportunity for Myra to get to know part of his family so she joined Gene and his son’s family. They were outside Good Morning America in Times Square and something very special happened … The weather reporter motioned for Myra to come up
to the blockade. As they engaged in small talk, a limousine pulled up and out stepped the day’s live entertainment, Jason Aldean. A security guard whispered to Aldean, and the singer made a direct route to Myra and Gene, where they shook hands and snapped photos. Myra said into the weather reporter’s microphone: “I’m 90, and I’m getting married!” The entire crowd (at home and in New York) loved this! Since then, Gene and Myra have continued to live happily ever after at Park Meadows.
We believe in a healthy and active lifestyle. This is why our Fun Department offers a full spectrum of signature activity programs designed to promote happiness, independence, and total wellness. HY
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Our program allows you live life to the fullest by focusing on eight key attributes of living well. Whether you want to be social, expressive, healthy, or just be more involved in your community, we have something for everyone.
You can be anything, but always
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Going out, yes. Going out of style, never. While a lot of things change over the years, some things don’t. And getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop doing what you love. So we encourage our residents to keep on doing their thing while we take care of the rest.
ARIZONA | COLORADO | ILLINOIS | INDIANA | KANSAS | MICHIGAN MISSOURI | NEW MEXICO | NEW YORK | OHIO | OREGON | TEXAS
This feels like home.® Independent Living, Assisted Living, Transitional Memory Care, Memory Care SpectrumRetirement.com | (888) 516-2188